Bottom Paint

[rpmerrill]

I'm looking through some paint specs - mostly 'cause I'm bored, waiting for summer.

I took a look at the paint I've used for the past two seasons, Pettit Vivid Red. It worked quite well and the red really looks good when paired with the blue hull.

As I was reading something caught my eye. The specs said Cure time: to overcoat 4-16 hours to launch 16-48 hours.

I'm looking for an interpretation. Does this mean second coat after 4 hours AND before 16 hours? And does it mean wait 16 hours to launch but before 48 hours?

Or am I being too literal? Overcoat, to be safe, after 16 hours. And launch, to be safe, after 48 hours. (I'm guessing there is a temperature factor that governs the cure time.)

 

[MarcoArias]

Hi,

You will need to wait at least 4 hours before adding a second coat. This ensures that you do not pull the first coat while doing the second. A good way to tell is to wait until the first coat dulls out.

You will then need to wait at least 16 hours after the last coat to launch it. Like you had mentioned, this is dependent on the ambient temperature and humidity.

 

[BB marine]

Depending on ambient temperatures the dry time can change. 4 hours being the minimum dry time to re-coat with warm ambient temperatures (90 F) 16 hours after the last coat would be the minimum time to launch. If ambient temperatures are cool 50 F the minimum time to re-coat would be 16 hrs and 48 hours to launch. Once the Vivid is applied there are no maximum times to re-coat or launch. I use Vivid, applied in 2016 and I will be reapplying this year. It is a good bottom paint for trailerable boats. It can be launched and hauled out of the water without loosing any fouling properties. It is hard finish for an ablative bottom paint. It will eventually wear away so there is minimal build up.

 

[scross]

Agree completely with Brian. Have had Vivid on hull for five seasons now. Holds up well on trailering bunks. We trailer 1,200 miles each year and haven’t had any rubbing off issues where the hull sits on the bunks.
That said, if you get it too thick from years of recoating it will peal off in small to dollar bill sized patches - especially near the bow. Vivid wet sands off easy when you need to get rid of the old thick layers.